#I probably just spoke a bunch of jibberish

[eluxcastar]

I forgot to mention the past toxic yaoi but that was younger man yaoi and may or may not be part of the AU that leads to Quill dying so we don't talk about that AU it's expected because Kaleo is a good boyfriend to nobody but he is a great father to specifically only Rukiya and I'm convinced nobody else

On a much cuter note. Old man yaoi with copious domestic fluff that also started on a whim because my first thought as to who Quill knows when I was making him to be a VNC OC was August and then they were so gay it had to be done 😭

I briefly mentioned Quintil in the tags of one of my posts but like some of my OCs strike the right part of my brain and he's one of them. I literally made this dude on a whim but I love him to death. What ISN'T there to love about a vampire dilf and his adopted daughter who acts like a feral cat not to mention Quill being a PRIME CANDIDATE for angsty old man yaoi

[rons-wheezely]

Ron || Inseparable

[Requested]

Genre: Fluff

Summary: this dude you don’t know really wants to be your friend??; Ron x reader “...I mean, I guess he’s cute or whatever, so it’s fine.”

----

It all started in charms class. Ron dreaded that class more than anything in the world, spells and incantations were definitely NOT his thing. Today, Professor Flitwick set up a bunch of locks in front of each student. He cleared his throat and said," Today, students, we will be learning blah blah blah.."

Every time Flitwick speaks, it's like jibberish to Ron. He's tried many times to concentrate, but last time he pulled a muscle or something because he had migraines for a whole week. Hermione says it's because his brain was smaller than a pea. What in the bloody hell was a "pea"? Definitely not piss, he hoped. He sucks at this class and it's painfully obvious..

"Ah, everyone play close attention to y/n's incantation and the subtlety of her wand. It's near perfect for a first try."

Ron turns his sights to you, who is now burning a Gryffindor red, as you redo the spell for everyone in the class. There was something beautiful about how you casted the spell, dare I call it magic. Ron Weasely couldn't take his eyes off of you like a star struck fan meeting his favorite quidditch team.

After that, Ron kept spotting you in crowds from class to class. He didn't want to sometimes, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't escape the memory that replayed in his head. The way his heart leaped out of his chest, how his fingers itched to shake yours for the first time and introduce himself. It was like you radiated some type of aura that drew him in. It's an overused description, but there was no other way to describe the way you pulled him in like a sinking black hole.  A problem still stood between him and his desires, however.

"I just wish we weren't strangers and that I could ask her out already, but then I'd--" Ron pouted to his friend Harry, who always seemed to get the girls. "You wouldn't understand though, since everyone seems to think you're the 'chosen one'." He mocked the voice of the masses. Everyone loved Harry, after all.

"Why don't you just talk to her?" Harry shovels his lunch into his mouth,"There's nothing stopping you, is there?" Harry says this so nonchalantly as if he's done it several times himself. "Unless you're chicken of course."

Half out of spite and half out of impatience, he wanted to prove that he could be friends with you. He introduced himself to you in the next class he shared, and days after that he'd wave to you when you two made eye contact. He thought it was embarrassing to be so excited to see someone he didn't know well, but it didn't stop his heart from beating faster than it had before.

After a week, Flitwick assigned a new project. "You shall team up with one person of your choosing and begin today's work." Before he was even finished speaking, you could see people making eye contact with their friends across the room. You didn't really have anyone you knew, as per usual, until you suddenly make eye contact with Ron Weasley.

His eyes are sparkling and it's like his whole life has lived up to this moment. He coughs into his elbow as he dusted off his robes when he stood up. Did he remember to brush his teeth this morning? God, he hopes so. He takes a deep breath and walks over to your seat. "Do you, uh, want to be partners?" He shifted under the feel of your gaze,"For the project of course; only if you want to."

Of course, you aren't in the position to say no, being that you've never been asked before, so you agree. However, that was just the beginning of your friendship with Ron. Overtime, it was like you two were always joined at the hip. You two would meet up and walk to class together, eat together, and even get caught up in Harry's adventures together. You never expected to be this close with Ron, or even anyone for that matter.

After school hours, you and Hermione hung out in the courtyard. It was her move in Gobstones when she brought up an interesting question. "I'd never actually think I'd see the day that Ron could be tolerated for more than a week. How do you do it?" She paused and mulled over her words. She spoke up again saying," Do you ever think he's clingy sometimes? It's like you two are conjoined twins or something... I'd say he was in love with you if it wasn't for Lavender Brown."

You hesitated in your response, feeling as though you were revealing too much," ...I mean, I guess he's cute or whatever, so it's fine." you attempt to shrug it off and focus on the game. Hermione's eyes burned holes into your skin as you tried to shake her uneasy stare.

Hermione gasped so loudly, it caught you off guard. Did you say too much? Did you say something wrong??? You shushed her in a panic, looking around at the other students staring at you. She recomposed herself with a deep breath, but she exploded in a flurry of whispered questions.

"So you think he's cute?? As a friend or... as something more? How long have you felt this way? Does anyone else know about this?" Hermione bombarded you with so many questions it was like the room started spinning.

"I wouldn't mind if we were something more," You could see Hermione about to gasp again," BUT I really don't think this is the kind of love story you think it is. He dated Lavender Brown up until two days ago, so he probably doesn't think of me that way, like you said earlier." The more you talked, the more you felt like you were giving away the secret krabby patty formula. Why can't you shut up?? "He probably likes girls like that."

"Or maybe he wanted you to be jealous?" Hermione spoke and won the game in one smooth turn,"Think about it." As you clean up the game pieces, she puts her hand on your shoulder. "I know that when he was dating Lavender, he walked with her to class, right? But don't you normally walk with him?" Hermione strolled the hallways with you. This situation was so stiff the outside air of the courtyard was suffocating you, leaving no room albeit to give in.

"I.. I don't know, Hermione. Maybe we're thinking into it too much?" Your head drifts to the outside scenery of Hogwarts. "Besides, why would he want to date me?"

A couple days later, Ron came back to the old routine of walking with you everywhere as if he'd never left. You wouldn't have even noticed if it weren't for that conversation with Hermione. It itched in the back of your mind like a spider on the back of your neck. You felt like you were reading too far into his jokes, and when he laughed at one of yours, there was a flip in your stomach and blood rushed to your face.

Now, his touches set your skin ablaze. It lingered and danced along the surface of your senses. Every breath of his that reached you was warm, his hands were a little too soft, and you could list a thousand other things that sent your mind running. Does he really like you like that?

"I thought she'd crack by now, Harry." A frustrated Ron brewed in his own bits of misfortune. "What if she's not into me like that?"

Harry looked at him. Harry's eyes glance at the clock before responding," Ron, it's like 11 pm and you're thinking about y/n?"

Ron nodded with a pout on his face.

Harry sighed," Why don't you just tell her?" Before Ron could reply with a flurry of doubts, Harry interjected. "You've literally had a crush on her since like First year, and I haven't seen you make your move. If you're that worried, you could try..." He looked around the dormitory room for a clue. His glasses glinted like an anime character when his eyes settled on a potions book. "You could always make a uh, forgetfulness potion?"

That seemed to satisfy Ron's stress and he laid back down in bed. He predicted that in the next 24 hours, he'll have confessed his feelings and then forced you to take his concoction of a "forgetfulness potion."

"Y/n." Ron had taken you outside the Great Hall during lunch. His palms are so sweaty and cold it could be a slip 'n slide (except he wouldn't know what that was.) You were talking to Harry about the next Quidditch game when he decided to confess. It took some persuading to leave the conversation, but you eventually gave in.

"Yes, Ron?" You prodded his shoulder. His face was pale, and the awkward silence was becoming unbearable. "...Ron? Are you monologuing or something?"

"I... I like you."

"Uhh me too? That's why we're friends." You weren't sure if your mind was playing tricks on you again. He wasn't confessing.. right?

"No I--" He stammered. "I like you. Like a lot. Since first year.." This was it. Any second you would reject him, and then he'd have to whip out his potion and apologize profusely while you guzzle it down.

"Oh." You blinked. Once. Twice. "Really? So this is a confession?"

"Will you go out with me?" He looked into your eyes. He was done for, he knew it. But, the disgust of rejection never came.

"Yeah.. I'd actually like that, Ron." You hugged him with all of your might. If this was a dream, then you hoped you'd never wake up. You were trying so hard not to let your feelings get the best of you, if only you knew he felt the same way. This past month's emotional procrastination was futile, and you can now admit the blooming feeling in your heart.

Ron was stunned. It was only until his robes were getting wet that he looked down. You were crying, but they were tears of joy? He really was prepared for the worst. Once the shock had died down, he embraced you. He never thought this day would come, but when it did, it was the greatest emotion he'd ever had. He kissed your forehead as the rest of your face was buried in his arms. "I love you."

---- 

-A/N-

Just a heads up, in the future I’d like to write and include other HP characters if y’all don’t mind (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ It’ll be about other HP characters in the same year probably, except for the other Weasleys. Love you guys ♡

p.s. I’m sorry that I took so long on this rip I wrote a whole different ending where you fake date Harry for a hot second, but it got out of hand and I scrapped it lol

[voyages-extraordinaires]

C:R ~VE~ Chapter 16

Nemo’s return to the warehouse was nothing short of triumphant. That being said, a great deal of the pomp and circumstance came from the man in question himself. 

The greatest incidents over the following weeks usually occurred when Cardia and I had to convince the boys that sleep was required to perform basic functions.

Nemo and I hadn’t shared a bed since Aouda and Fogg’s arrival. On the contrary, Nemo spent what little free time he gave himself speaking excitedly with Barbicane about... gravity, oddly enough. It probably had to do with Barbicane’s future moon trip (a plan that I still can’t wrap my head around).

Barbicane, Smith, and Nemo were hyper-focused on their work, with Cardia filling the role of assistant.

...I often left the warehouse so as not to get in their way. I’m afraid I was feeling rather useless in this part of the planning, but I was doing my best not to let it get to me.

By the time the third week passed, I completely filled two journals with biological observations. 

I wanted to do more, and this afternoon I’m finally able to sit down with a new subject.

Though Nemo initially encouraged me to continue with my biological studies, I told him that that I really wanted to learn what he was doing.

I blush when I remember how tight he hugged me after I said that. He was speaking so excitedly that his voice sounded like a blur of jibberish, and shortly after that he gave me this book.

It’s surprisingly easy to read, though I’m not especially fond of physics. If it will help us dive to the bottom of the sea in a powered vessel, though, I’ll do whatever it takes.

Still, I’m a little surprised he was so eager to help me learn. In fact, he seems to be at his happiest when he’s encouraging others to, as he puts it, ‘indulge their scientific curiosity’.

“It’s probably because of my father,” Cardia told me one night.

“Isaac Beckford?” I asked.

“When Nemo was experimenting on my Horologium, I ignored a lot of what he was saying,” she continued. “But he talked about my father often. I think he encouraged Nemo quite a bit. I might be completely off with this, but... I think he’s hoping he might be able to fill that role for someone else. That maybe he can encourage someone in the same way.”

To most, Nemo is eccentric, at best. But as we all work towards this great goal, this shining future, I think it’s becoming easier for all of us to see what a genius he truly is. More than that, what sort of man he is behind his flamboyance, tragedy, bombast, and bitterness.

Of course, I’m terribly biased. Each time he makes me laugh, I fall a little deeper in love with him.

These days that I can spend with everyone are precious.

However... there is one person that I haven’t quite been able to connect with.

It isn’t that she’s impolite, in fact she’s very cordial! But, no matter how hard I try, I always feel uneasy around Aouda.

It’s no mystery as to why, either. Though she’s a noble, charismatic, and intelligent woman with much to offer... all I can see in her is Nemo’s past. That past that he didn’t want me to touch, his life and love as Dakkar.

While my scientific curiosity is something I want to stimulate, the last thing I want to do is to indulge my self-destructive heart that burns to know about his family.

No, it’s not that I even especially desire to know about his family-- I respect Nemo’s wishes enough to not pry.

It’s my self-loathing heart, that terrible part of me that wants to confirm-- ah, there is no way I could compare to the princess he once had!

.....

I’ve been trying to read the same sentence for the past minute. I have to remember and accept who I am. I am Pauline Honorine Aronnax, a great biologist who will one day explore the depths of the Atlantic.

Ah, maybe statement needs to have a dash more ‘Barbicane’ to it.

I am Pauline Honorine Aronnax, France’s greatest biologist and the one who will one day show mankind the treasures of a world previously unseen!

No, that sounds more like Nemo, doesn’t it? It’s just missing a few stretched vowels.

Damnit, I can’t concentrate like this!

I set the book aside and make my way towards the barracks, sick on love and of love!

He almost kissed me. He told me that he wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold back. Logic would dictate, then, that he at least must hold some sort of attraction towards me! I should be happy, so why--?!

No, I know why.

It’s because I’m neither a great beauty like the love he once had, nor am I a master of the science he loves now. It’s the same as it was at the university, too. My peers would ask me, hasn’t everything in the world been discovered already? Best to leave these ‘soft’ sciences behind and pursue technology and great feats of engineering!

As I throw the door to the barracks open, I almost walk into Aouda. Both of us jump, startled, and exchange apologies while laughing politely.

I can’t bring myself to make eye contact with her as I move past. The way I’m acting is irrational, ridiculous.

“Professor.”

I stop when Aouda calls out to me in her cool voice.

“My cousin was looking for you,” she says. “He’s made a breakthrough on an ‘air independent engine’ and was hoping to show you.”

“Oh, well-- well of course,” I say, doing my best to sound even. “Yes, I’ll go... I just... need to freshen up a touch is all.”

“Professor,” Aouda repeats.

Her voice wounds me like a barbed harpoon.

“Philomena and I will be accompanying Finis back to London,” she says.

I turn to look at her, unsure of how to respond.

“We’ll be looking for concrete evidence against this Aleister fellow, and doing what we can to convince Queen Victoria that my cousin is not the man he really is... or, at least, try to convince her that he is not the man he was.”

“I’m grateful,” I reply. “Thank you for your help.”

Aouda sighs and repeats once more: “Professor.”

I swallow. “Yes?”

“Even after Philomena spoke with you, you’re still intent on torturing yourself?”

“Torturing myself?” I turn around and look at her. “Not at all! I don’t know what you’re talki....”

Aouda stares at me, daring me to finish my sentence.

“... Truth be told, I would be very happy to have some relief,” I admit. “I thought it would come from acknowledging my feelings.”

“It would take a very selfless person to feel complete relief from merely admitting their feelings to themselves. It will likely take some time for you to stop fighting yourself over it. Does my cousin know?”

She’s too good.

I rub the back of my neck to hide its rosy hue from Aouda. “I think so... he told me to just say it.”

“And did you?” she asks.

I shake my head. “I was too afraid to actually say it. I told him to wait.”

“How long?”

Every time Aouda asks me a short, sharp question it’s like she’s digging the blade in deeper.

“I don’t know...”

Aouda walks over and says: “Look at me.”

I turn my head to look at her. Her expression is surprisingly soft. Though she’s not related to Nemo by blood, she carries herself with the same gravity that I saw in that glimpse of Dakkar. It’s intoxicating.

“It’s been almost a month since Philomena and I arrived. Your submarine will be done soon. You should be happy! You and Nemo should be celebrating!”

Hearing her call him ‘Nemo’ makes me smile.

“See? Like that,” she pats me on the cheek. “Humans aren’t meant to be solitary creatures. Neither you nor him...”

I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and give voice to the insecurity that has been bubbling inside of me:

“The title of ‘princess’...” I speak slowly. “... Belongs to girls like Cardia, not me.”

Aouda doesn’t say anything. I wonder what she looks like right now. I imagine she probably has a frustrated expression on her face. But I can’t stop myself, the relief I felt from saying that sentence alone is so freeing!

“Young, vibrant girls with stars in their eyes and roses in their cheeks! Girls who spread joy wherever they go! I know that type! I could never compare to that! Even now I’m here instead of where I want to be-- because I’d just get in the way. I can identify plants, but what use will that be?!”

I reach out to balance myself against the wall, shaking my head.

“Engineering, physics, isn’t that what Steel London runs on? Isn’t that what Paris and my university run on?!”

I begin to walk forward, groping for the stairs.

“I say that I left my job because it was too safe. What a-- what a bunch of bull!” I let out a laugh that honestly surprises me. “It’s true, god, how inspired I felt when I saw Barbicane’s submersible! I knew there was something still out there for me, something that I could do-- something that no one else could do--! I could go somewhere no one else has been! And when I met Nemo--!”

I suck in my breath as I stumble, but Aouda steadies me with a firm hand.

I wave her away, still rambling.

“-- I felt so special! Like I really mattered! Like I wasn’t just an insignificant existence in a sea of beauty and progress!”

I stumble again, and this time Aouda isn’t there to catch me. My knees knock into the staircase and I fall with a grunt.

I sprawl out on the bottom of the stairs and cover my head, wishing I could will myself away.

“This isn’t about his past at all, is it?!” I cry. “No, that would have an easy solution! People can love more than once, there are thousands of examples--! But I’ll... I’ll never be enough... I’ll never be enough for this world... neither beautiful nor genius... just a prodigy that grew up.”

Aouda sits down on the stairs next to me, not saying anything.

Both of us are quiet for a long time, each of us stewing in our tragedies... mine so insignificant compared to hers.

I break the silence with a laugh.

“Hey...”

I laugh again.

“Is it my turn for teatime?”

Aouda looks over at me, and our eyes meet.

“We’ve all had enough tea, I think,” she says. “

[drtwit]

From Justice to Spite - (Adam Taurus) RWBY Fanfiction

Here is the first draft of a small fic I'm planning on the side, one that explores snapshots of Adam's life up to him murdering Sienna Khan, hoping to slowly build a picture of Adam becoming the psychopath we make fun of to this day that will probably not even be close to hitting the mark... Or, more simply, a bunch of pedantic jibberish that fell out of my head in a jumbled amalgamation of words.

“At first I thought Adam was "justice", then I thought he was "passion". But over time, I realized I was wrong. He wasn't any of those things. He was "spite". Not "hatred", not "rage", "spite". He won't accept equality, only suffering for what he feels the world did to him, and his way of thinking is dangerously contagious.” 

The first memory that came to mind was his father’s fascination with linking people to natural materials. Stones were trusted to be apart of the planet’s foundation. They were stern, strong and most of all they were patient. Yet, in that limitless patience, they find nothing but the ability to crumble. Such strength, such power, such respect all reduced to nothing but a weak pile of dust. The boy didn’t mean to take such a pessimistic view of the metaphor, that patience helped other, garnered it guiltless joy, ended it righteous and clean. Then again, joy felt like a chore to work with today. He looked to the stone, all he could see it how swiftly it crumbled. The wood only brought forth the thought of the flames that scorched that soft brown to heavy black. Pieces of glass pooling at his feet just reminded him of how it was shattered, the collapsing shards like a looping alarm to signal the oncoming tragedy. Not even the sky itself could bring comfort as it was now poisoned by smoke mixed with copper and blood. The boy wanted to find something to focus on, something that he could distract himself with, something that could make the throbbing in his stomach subside and let him be ignorant of reality for the moment. Tears desperately wanted to break through and rush down his cheeks, stinging his boiling flesh with cold despair. No matter how much his heart fought to relieve him of some of the pain, it couldn’t penetrate that layer of confusion and dread that blocked his throat. Why? It was a question that ached in his soul. Why did this happen? Was it his fault? Did he do something bad? Is this his punishment? He didn’t want this, he’d take it all back, he was sorry, he didn’t mean to do anything wrong. He didn’t know what he did wrong, but he’d make up for it in a heartbeat! Anything… Just him back. Please. “Adam.” And like that, his little world shattered, for a brief moment the curse of memory reeled back and let his attention free. Now, he could hear the cars in the distance, beeping profanities at each other as they tried to navigate around the roadblocks. There were snippets of conversations between blaring ambulances and roaring squad cars wondering how long this day was going to be. He only noticed now that the morning rain was pelting down on his head. “Officer, how long have you left this boy sitting here without getting him a coat?” The disgruntled police officer grunted out some unintelligible words in response to the low feminine voice. There was a certain edge to the voice, it reminded the boy of a tiger scaring away it’s prey. “On a day like this, I can’t believe it. Do you want him to freeze to death?” Looking up at her, the first thing to meet his sight were her eyes, those amber eyes that carried a familiar sense of loss. She was looking for distractions just as much as he was. Did she do something wrong as well? Pulling back from her eyes, he recognized her, remembering those brown stripes on her dark skin that he had been awed by. The eyes, they always scared him, whenever she had looked over him, they would pin him down with the thought that she would bare sharp teeth and attack. “Adam.” She said his name again, realizing that he was now looking at her. The Officer had shuffled off, perhaps fleeing from angering the woman any further. He didn’t respond. He didn’t feel like talking at the moment. “I’m Sienna Khan” She approached him slowly, her feet careful, but wobbly. It was like she was trying to balance on stilts with every step. “Do you… Remember me? Don’t worry, I’m a friend of your dads” Okay, not the best way to introduce yourself to a child. He remembered how she and his dad yelled at each other a lot. Yet her voice was much quieter here. She held his gaze for a long time, tight-lipped and stiff as a board. She really wanted him to speak, didn’t she? “Are you going to eat me?” It was the first question that came to mind, one which he thought important. He didn’t taste good anyway with all this rainwater. “Eat you?” Her eyelids pulled back, stopping her mid-stride as she processed the question. Before long, she was shaking her head, forcing a fake smile as she took the strange question as a fortunate distraction. “No, no. I don’t eat little boys. Besides, my belly is full today. I… Uh… Had an early lunch” She really didn’t have much experience talking to children. “Do you mind if I take a seat here? All the others are taken.” After a scrutinizing look to confirm that she was, in fact, not going to eat him (with her even opening her mouth to show her teeth), the boy shuffled to the side and weakly nodded. “Okay.” It was an awkward silence between the two as she slowly crouched down and tucked her legs under her knees. His concentration waned, pulled over to her and blocking out the other noises and sights for just this one little area. His nook and cranny. “The weather’s not very pleasant today, is it?” The heartache hung in the air, desperate for attention, but neither of them wanted to look its way, just distract themselves. Talk about something else. “You’re not wearing one either” “Hm?” “You yelled at that man for not giving me a coat. Why aren’t you wearing one? Aren’t you cold?” His knees came up to his chest, fearful eyes locking onto the stripes adorning her arms. “I am.” She admitted, her posture stern and strict, a towering and unwavering figure even against the rain pelting her neck. “But the cold never bothered me much these days. I’ve spent a lot of time with fire, so it’s more relieving than anything” Her voice started off joking, but bit-by-bit that bitterness sunk into her words. The boy could only, once again, speak out with the first thing to come to mind “That’s cool” She laughed. She didn’t mean to let that involuntary giggle slip past her lips, but she laughed. It was a warm one that broke through the atmosphere. The boy didn’t quite understand what was funny about what he said, but he didn’t mind, the humor made the woman feel good and that made the boy feel proud. It made Adam feel more comfortable in her presence. “Thank you?” “You don’t thank someone for laughing” “Oh.” There was a soft smile as she shook her head at the boy’s misunderstanding. “Do you… Have many friends?” From what she knew, he wasn’t exactly someone who got out much. “I have Mada, he’s a samurai and stuff who stays with me and shows me cool tricks when Dad was walking with all the other people” Adam talked with more energy, gripping the air as if he were grabbing a sword by the hilt. “But Dad says that he doesn’t count because he doesn’t exist” His cheeks sucked in, his lips turning in curiosity. “W-what do you do? Do you walk with Dad?” “No, not quite. I’m more of a fighter” “Huh?” “I worked for the same thing your dad did, but instead of waving signs, I… Fought for those that couldn’t fight themselves.” “Oh, so you’re like a superhero?” “Not rea-… In a way, Adam.” The trick was to keep the conversation going, embrace that procrastination for however long you could. “I had an imaginary friend once. She didn’t say much, more of a silent supporter than a playground pal. I always thought she was a mute, but that was long before I realized that there were times where actions spoke louder than words ever could” Her eyes trailed up to meet the collapsed mass of stone, wood, and metal that formed the pyre. “Sometimes it’s deafening. You have to yell louder to make your voice heard” “My voice gets very squeaky when I yell, it’s embarrassing” His head shifted to bury his chin in between his legs, completely ignorant to any meaning in her words. “Not like yours. Your voice even gets my Dad to yell. I like it, even if it scares me” The admittance made Sienna softly smile down at the boy, only for his next question to dampen that smile. “Did you hate my Dad?” For a moment, her eye closed tightly shut. “It’s not that simple” Telling a ten-year-old that something isn’t that simple never went well. She heard herself verbally tearing into that man, all the names she called him, all the lives she laid down at his feet, all the scorn she unloaded onto him. “It may be hard to understand. We had different outlooks on life... Uh, that is, we thought differently. That may have driven a rift between us, it brought us arguments and dispute, but he was still a wonderful man I’m happy to say was my friend” Adam took his time letting the words sink in, for a while his horns poking through his bush of red hair was the most Sienna could see of him. Some of the words she used took a while for the boy to understand. So, even if she hurt his dad, yelled at his dad, she still thought of his dad as a friend? “Are we friends?” She turned to him fully, watching his face uncurl from his knees to blink up at her. “We can be” Treating this like a business deal more than small talk with a ten-year-old, she held out her hand, looking for a handshake. “I’ll be your friend” With a skeptical look that lasted a few seconds, Adam reached up to clasp the woman’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “Come on now. It’s time to leave.” When Sienna tried to urge the boy to his feet, he clearly struggled with the idea. “G-go? I don’t wanna go away, I wanna stay here!” He pulled away from her, backing away towards the wreckage, his back against what used to be his bedroom. “Why do I have to go anywhere? This is my home!” “There’s nothing left for you here. What you need right now is a place to sleep, somewhere warm.” She made no move to close the gap between them, merely holding out her hand like before, her eyes hard as they bore into the boy. “Somewhere you’ll be safe to live your life” “I’m not leaving here, I’m not leaving him!” His back fell back to what remained of the wall, his legs wobbling, arms weak and knees heavy. There were so many emotions bubbling in the pit of his stomach, charging forward and snapping their jaws at his throat. They all wanted to stay here, like it would change anything, achieve anything. “I can’t leave him here alone” “You’re not leaving him, Adam” She remained firm in her position, her voice soft, but loud and clear. “His spirit is going to be with you no matter what, that body is just some bags of flesh now…” Adam looked as if he was pushed into a corner, his eyes fleeting and a small bit fearful. “He wanted you to come with me if anything ever happened to him. He would want you to leave. He would want you to-” “L-let go?” He’d heard it many times before from that police officer. Said it was healthy. Said it would help. “No, Adam” Sienna’s tone came to a surprising seriousness with these words, her eyes narrowing on the boy. “This pain you feel? It isn’t nice, it isn’t comfortable, but you need it. You need to keep it with you Adam, to keep you strong, because no matter the protection I provide you’ll need that strength. No, Adam. Never let it go.” He didn’t know when he had taken her hand again, he just knew when he had that one emotion above all had triumphant, a smoldering heat reaching up his body and pushing through his fingertips. It was anger. A hungry beast starving for food. What did you feed anger born out of grief? The one responsible. “Is it my fault?” At first, Sienna’s eyes widened at the question, completely caught off guard by such an idea. A little boy responsible for his own father’s murder? The look he gave her added so much weight, he trusted her to speak the truth. She dropped down to make sure she was on an even level with the boy, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen if it was. If I did something wrong, I don’t want him to pay for it. I-I’ll do better, I’ll do anything. I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” “Adam!” She got to grips with herself, letting out a growl that stole Adam’s volume away. “You didn’t cause this, you have nothing to feel guilty about here-” “But why-” “You didn’t do this, Adam.” For the first time, the two allowed themselves to finally focus fully on the sight before them. On the flames still fighting for the opportunity to roar above the wreckage of a childhood home, the surrounding neighborhood now having the perfect view of the tears in the ground, the possessions that had been melted by flames and the corpses mangled in stone. At the borders of police tape and cars, they lined up, crowds of people struggling for a good position to frame the area on their phones, very few offering a drop of sympathy. “Humans did this.” In that moment, the answer broke the confusion, the dam within him cracked and let forth the waterworks. Before long, the heat licking his skin fought against an onslaught of wet tears. Without warning, he broke contact with her arms and tackled the woman with a hug, burying his face in her shoulder with no shame or thought towards the stains he was leaving on her clothes. She didn’t speak, she didn’t move, she didn’t attempt anything. She just let the child cry in her arms, cry for himself and cry for her. “S-Sienna?” “Yes?” “…I want to be a fighter too”